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MYAVANA is making its haircare technology accessible to the next generation of cosmetologists. According to The Georgia Sun, MYAVANA Certified Education — a beauty technology virtual course — is making its way to the Atlanta Barber Institute with the help of Groove Global and the City of Atlanta. Students will gain insights into diverse hair types using data-driven science and technology along with tools like the MYAVANA HairScope, an artificial intelligence (AI) -powered device that analyzes clients’ hair strands and creates personalized hair care plans. The purpose of the course is to increase opportunities for careers in beauty technology — from high school students seeking an entry point to seasoned professionals looking to innovate their services. This will be accomplished through course materials, training, and a focus on teaching STEM concepts. “We are thrilled to partner with Atlanta Barber Institute to innovate and elevate the client experience by empowering barber and...
Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 women’s basketball league, had solid revenue in its first year. Investing In Its Athletes From The Start As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the Medley, FL-based league with 36 players was created by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart and offers the highest-paid salaries in women’s sports, with an average salary of over $200,000. The league has also provided incentives to players, with $50,000 allocated to each player on the winning 2025 Playoffs team. This year’s reigning champion is the Rose BC, led by Coach Nola Henry and featuring players Brittney Sykes, Angel Reese, Kahleah Copper, Azura Stevens, Lexie Hull, and Chelsea Gray. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rose BC (@rosebc) What’s more, Unrivaled is pushing the boundaries of what it means to invest in women’s sports. The league provides a makeup room, weight room, and daycare center for practice and games, per Front Office Sports, and it has partnered with Samsung as its official presenting and...
CoCo Gauff is on a mission to “take greater ownership” of her tennis career, starting with launching her own management agency. On Wednesday, April 2, Gauff, describing herself as an “athlete, entrepreneur, and changemaker,” announced the launch of Coco Gauff Enterprises. The initiative is supported by talent representation agency WME (William Morris Endeavor), which Gauff asserted has the “vision and resources to help me explore all of the opportunities ahead.” “From the moment I first picked up a tennis racket, I’ve always believed my purpose extended far beyond the court,” Gauff’s post said. “Today, I’m thrilled to announce CoCo Gauff Enterprises, a venture that reflects my passion for making an impact—not just in tennis, but in business, philanthropy , and beyond.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Coco Gauff (@cocogauff) The venture marks the end of Gauff’s partnership with Team8, the boutique agency co-founded by former Swiss professional tennis player Roger...
There were some initial hesitations around Unrivaled’s 3-on-3 women’s basketball league, but that has not stopped it from attracting notable investors. Unrivaled is a startup founded in 2023 by WNBA players Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, its business model is unprecedented, offering the highest salaries in women’s sports and granting participating players an equity stake in the league. Its concept has proven to be a success among its players. “Everybody got equity coming into this league, that’s the most important thing…I know five years from now this thing is gonna be bigger than ever,” Angel Reese from Unrivaled’s Rose BC team shared during a virtual press conference held in January. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rose BC (@rosebc) The potential of Unrivaled was not understood by all. In fact, Collier recalls receiving various “no’s” during the league’s inception. “It was hard because you think the same thing like, ‘Oh, I’m an...
22-year-old Angel Reese has fulfilled her wish to retire her mother. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, the WNBA player for the Chicago Sky is vocal about how her mother, Angel Webb Reese, has influenced her journey. Beginning at 4 years old, Reese was courtside at her mother’s games. “I used to go to my mom’s games when I was younger. She used to play in a little league, and I used to always go watch her games on Sundays. That was something that was always inspiring to me,” Reese explained to Just Women’s Sports. “She’s always been independent and she molded that into me. I am who I am because of her.” Angel Webb Reese, who played basketball for the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), was inducted into its Athletics Hall of Fame, notes Today. She also went on to have a professional career in Luxembourg. Her daughter is carrying the basketball torch while also making strides beyond the sport in business, guided by her agents, Jeanine Ogbonnaya and Gina Paradiso. As a...
As American social media users brace for the Jan. 19 TikTok ban , thousands have begun searching for alternative apps to satiate their doom scrolling fix. While many American-based tech CEO’s such as Mark Zuckerberg had hoped that the TikTok ban would encourage users to flock to other short-form video players such as Instagram or YouTube Shorts, it seems that the masses have stumbled onto an unknown gem called Xiaohongshu instead. The app, which translates to RedNote in English, is owned by a Shanghai-based company known as Xingyin Information Technology, and touts itself as a lifestyle, social networking and e-commerce service . Given that RedNote primarily serves a Chinese audience, it defaults to Mandarin upon download, and exposes new users to an audience of hundreds of millions of overseas subscribers. The sudden influx of so-called “TikTok refugees” has caused RedNote to skyrocket in popularity, taking it to the number one position among the free apps chart on both the Apple...
Cincoro, Michael Jordan’s spirit company, is making large strides. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the tequila company was founded in 2019 by Jordan in partnership with NBA team owners Jeanie Buss of the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks’ Wes Edens, and Boston Celtics’ Emilia Fazzalari and Wyc Grousbeck. Since then, it has won numerous awards and attracted notable investors, including Serena Williams, Derek Jeter, Michael Strahan , Fenway Sports Group Co-founder Tom Werner, and RedBird Capital Partners Founder and Managing Partner Gerry Cardinale. “Michael introduced me to the brand, and I’ve been an avid fan of Cincoro Extra Añejo since it launched in 2019. I’m honored to support Cincoro in its next era,” said Jeter in a press release. Williams commented: “Being part of Cincoro isn’t just about business —it’s about championing a legacy of greatness. I love Cincoro. Just as I’ve strived for excellence on the court, I recognize the dedication and drive behind Cincoro, and I’m...
Entertainer Jason Derulo is forging a deeper connection with will.i.am that extends beyond their shared passion for music. The pair are working together on the technology front, in alignment with their individual ambitions within the space over the years. Derulo has made several investments in the tech space. He participated in a funding round for Moonpay — a fintech company that allows users to quickly buy and sell cryptocurrency — which amounted to $87 million in 2022, along with other investors such as Brent Faiyaz , Snoop Dogg, Drake, Lil Baby, and Lil Durk, its website lists. Derulo also joined a $40 million funding round for Christian app Glorify in 2021, according to a news release, and is an investor in blockchain-enabled music platform Audius. Derulo is an advocate for artificial intelligence (AI) within artistry as well. He sees it as a helpful tool. “When it is good enough, I will embrace it because I just feel like with my wealth of knowledge of music I can utilize...
Dawn Staley continues to offer a guiding hand to basketball star Aliyah Boston. The pair first teamed up at The University of South Carolina. Staley serves as the school’s head coach of women’s basketball and is currently signed to a historic seven-year contract that has made her the highest-paid head coach in NCAA Women’s Basketball, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. Boston played under Staley’s leadership from 2019 to 2023. Together, they won one national titles against the University of Connecticut in 2022, notes NBC-10 Philadelphia. Boston’s collegiate career would position her as the school’s all-time leader in overall rebounds, offensive and defensive rebounds, blocked shots in SEC games, double-doubles, and triple-doubles, among others, according to the WNBA. She is also a four-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year, two-time National Player of the Year, and two-time SEC Player of the Year. Throughout it all, Staley has remained front and center as a fan even as Boston...
Allisha Gray is optimistic about her post on Unrivaled. The 2024 All-Star player who made history is not taking her talents to Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 basketball league founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lunar Owls BC (@lunarowlsbc) Unrivaled has welcomed 36 players across six teams, including Gray (Lunar Owls BC), Aliyah Boston (Vinyl BC), Brittney Griner (Phantom BC), Angel Reese (Rose BC), and Kate Martin (Laces BC). Its launch was supported by an oversubscribed Series A raise of $28 million in December 2024, bringing its total funding to at least $35 million. Investors in the league include Carmelo Anthony, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Alex Morgan, Dawn Staley, and, most recently, Coco Gauff. “I’m thrilled to be joining Unrivaled as an investor,” Gauff said in a press release. “Basketball is one of my favorite sports, and the chance to support a league that’s redefining the game is exciting. I look forward to being part...
Wiz Khalifa views his decision to sell a portion of his catalog as a sound business move. In July 2023, the artist sold a portion of his music and publishing assets to HarbourView Equity Partners, a global alternative asset management company, according to a press release. The sale included hit singles such as “See You Again,” “Black & Yellow,” and “The Thrill.” “Wiz Khalifa has already made a profound impact on culture as a musician, executive, media visionary, and creative force. We celebrate his talent and creativity and are thrilled to welcome him and Taylor Gang to the HarbourView family today,” said Sherrese Clarke Soares, Founder and CEO of HarbourView, in a news release. Khalifa commented: “Sherrese and HarbourView truly understand the value of music and artistry. We are excited to partner with them as they continue to build a dynamic media company that is in line with the values and goals we all have here at Taylor Gang.” More than a year after the transaction, he explained...
Kwame Christian leverages his expertise to inspire and equip professionals with the tools to succeed. Christian’s journey can be traced back to Tiffin, OH, where he was raised as a first-generation Caribbean American, often standing out as the only Black student in his classes. A defining moment in sixth grade shaped his path: being rejected and ostracized by peers on the playground. This experience ignited a deep desire for connection and acceptance. By high school, he channeled that drive into leadership, rising to become the captain of both the basketball and tennis teams. Reflecting on his journey in an interview with AFROTECH™, Christian admitted he adopted a “people pleaser” mentality, often prioritizing others’ approval over his authentic self. “I wasn’t my authentic self in many ways,” he said. “I still had really great connections, but when it came to difficult situations and difficult conversations, I would always agree, even if I disagreed, I wouldn’t speak up if I didn’t...
Former NFL player Mark Clayton sketched his vision for entrepreneurship while in business school. Clayton founded LIVV Audio, which offers high-performing headphones designed for athletes and fitness enthusiasts. The product was inspired by his experiences as an athlete. Drafted to the NFL in 2005 by the Baltimore Ravens, he signed a five-year deal valued at $8.2 million, according to Spotrac. Around 2008, he was among the many athletes sporting Beats headphones. Over the years, Clayton recalled breaking two pairs. In 2010, he was traded to the St. Louis Rams but suffered a season-ending injury. During his recovery, he turned to aquatic therapy but faced challenges using over-the-ear headphones during his sessions. “I made it to St. Louis and had a season-ending injury. And a lot of the rehab we did was in the swimming pool,” Clayton told AFROTECH™. “So, of course, I want to wear my over-ear headphones, but they would start to fall off, and then I have to take ’em off because I...
Business owners are watching a back-and-forth battle that’s become tougher than playing tennis against Coco Gauff , and neither side is backing down. The two opponents? Business owners (specifically a Texas gun shop, the National Small Business Association and the state of Alabama) versus the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (USDOT). What are they debating about? Nationwide business owners being required to file the Beneficial Ownership Information Report (BOIR) before January 1, 2025 in order to avoid a $591 fine, criminal penalties of up to two years in prison and repeat offenses that could lead to them owing $10K. What Is The Beneficial Ownership Information Report (BOIR)? Effective January 1, 2024, many companies in the United States must report information about their beneficial owners (the people who own or control their companies) to FinCEN , a bureau of USDOT. Filing is free and a onetime occurrence in order to...
What a year for Coco Gauff. The tennis star made her way to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, marking her first appearance in the Olympics. Despite not medaling, her appearance proved to be quite memorable. She also made history as the youngest athlete and the first tennis player to serve as the torchbearer. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Team USA (@teamusa) In October 2024, Gauff made history yet again when she won the China Open. According to CNN, she outperformed opponent Karolina Muchová and became the first American to win the China Open since Serena Williams in 2013. She wraps up the year by adding another title. In November 2024, she defeated Olympic gold medalist Qinwen Zheng during the WTA Finals held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As Forbes notes , this marks her ninth WTA Tour singles title. Gauff took to Instagram to reflect on her achievement. “In all seriousness, I’m so grateful for all the support the last few weeks. Getting to win the last tournament of the...